A question on a 1863 Sharps conversion to 50/70

[moosedog]

Hello. I bought this rifle on line and have some questions which I will ask the seller after verifying with you folks. His pictures were sketchy and now I know why. It appears to me that the breech block is not original and has a safety? switch on top. It appears to be a preproduction part.
What do you folks think? Thanks in advance.

[Jim Brady Knap's Battery]

Definitely not an original block at least. I'd be thinking on a refund.

[MR. GADGET]

Looks like the gun was beat up.
Several replacement parts, the block hammer screw looks off the lever pin look repop.
Lever may also not be correct.

[bobanderson]

It's a repro, Italian made, that was imported and sold out of Florida about 20 years ago. I owned one.
It's an 1859/1863 action convertef to center fire. Mine was a 45/70.
Not a great shooter, but it got me started in Silhouette shooting.

[Hal]

The gun itself appears original to me, but the breech block and, I suspect the lever, are not. My wife used to have a 50-70 conversion and I can assure you there was no safety on the firing pin.

[Jim Wimbish, 10395]

I have an older Pedersoli Sharps Carbine in 45/70 and the block doesn't have the safety shown on this block. Definitely a modern conversion.

[Des]

I believe you are seeing an SILE breech block from a 45-70 Sharps reproduction. They had a safety lever in that location